Brooklyn Nets: Miami Heat Defeat Nets in Third Preseason Matchup

121. 110. 100. 147. Final

In their third preseason matchup, the Brooklyn Nets traveled to South Beach to take on the Miami Heat.

The Brooklyn Nets took on the Miami Heat in Brooklyn’s third test of the preseason. After Jeremy Lin was held out to rest versus the New York Knicks, Lin got the nod to start at point guard versus Miami. However, Kenny Atkinson opted to sit Brook Lopez. The starting lineup consisted of Lin, Joe Harris, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Trevor Booker, and Justin Hamilton started in place of Lopez.

Miami’s starting lineup consisted of Goran Dragic, Wayne Ellington, Justise Winslow, Derrick Williams, and Hassan Whiteside.

The Heat got off to a quick start as Ellington, a former Net, opened up the scoring with a three-pointer. Hassan Whiteside, fresh off of a max deal signed in the offseason, added four quick points in the paint. Brooklyn’s first points then came on a three-pointer from Lin.

Miami got out to an 11-3 lead early in the first quarter, when Hamilton floated out beyond the arc and hit a quick three. Early on, Brooklyn’s defense didn’t have much of an answer for Whiteside in the paint, as he scored 10 of Miami’s first 13 points.

The Heat outplayed the Nets for much of the first quarter, but the Nets scored ten straight points to end the quarter, cutting Miami’s lead to just one. Heading to the second quarter, Miami led 27-26.

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The second quarter started off with the Nets continuing their hot pace. At one point, Brooklyn, up 36-31, was on a 20-6 run. Several Nets got in on the three-point shooting. 17 of Brooklyn’s first 32 shot attempts came from three-point range.

Brooklyn held the lead for much of the second quarter. Despite the Heat scoring the final seven points of the quarter, Brooklyn led 59-55 at halftime. The Nets hoisted 22 three-point attempts in the first half, sinking 10 of them. Three Nets ended the first half in double figures, as Lin, Bogdanovic and Luis Scola each scored 10 points.

The Heat regained the lead to start the second half. Miami came out of the halftime break and moved the ball well. Midway through the third quarter, second-round pick Isaiah Whitehead entered the game for the first time. Miami seemed to make defensive adjustments at halftime, as the Nets didn’t have as many open looks from beyond the arc in the third quarter. As a result, Miami began to pull away. Miami outscored Brooklyn 38-17 in the third quarter.

The Heat led 93-76 at the end of three quarters.

By the fourth quarter, Miami held a comfortable lead. Much of Brooklyn’s success in this matchup came earlier in the first half. By the second half, Miami was defending the perimeter more effectively and limiting Brooklyn’s three-point opportunities.

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Offensively, the Nets struggled to keep pace on the scoreboard in the second half. Miami pulled away and took the victory, 121-100. Lin led the Nets with 16 points, and Hamilton added 12 of his own. Whiteside led all scorers with 21 for the Heat. With the loss, Brooklyn moves to 1-2 on the preseason.

The Brooklyn Nets will host the Boston Celtics on Thursday.

Brooklyn Nets: Heat Defeat Nets in Miami

By Tj Porreca | Oct 11, 2016

In their third preseason matchup, the Brooklyn Nets traveled to South Beach to take on the Miami Heat.

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